Bottle-washing machine.



vv. R. COPPAGE. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28. i914.

Patented Dec. 12, m6.

3 SHEETS-SHEET WYNESSES W. R. COPPAGE.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED Aus.28. 1914.

Patented Da. 12, 1916.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/ INI/ENTOR Allarney W. R. COPPAGE.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28. I9I4.

Lw@ Imm@ @90.121916 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

u r I mw IW WILLIAM R. COPPAGE, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT'OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOIt OlE ONE- HAIJF T0 H. N. BRAWNER, JR., OlE WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OlE COLUMBIA.

BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.-

rateatea nee. ia, iaac..

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. CorPAGE, of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Washing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which. it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus for washing bottles or jars, and more particularly milk bottles, the object being to provide means for automatically feeding-tbe bottles to the apparatus, actuating the washing devices to thoroughly cleanse the bottles inside and out, ,and automatically discharge ing the bottles from the apparatus, and it consists in the parts and combination of parts and in the detailsof construction as will be more fully explained and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1l4 is a view in transverse section of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a view in plan of a section of the apparatus, a portion of the top being broken away; Fig. 3 is a View in section showing the feed trough and the means for feeding the bottles from the trough to the bottle carrier; Fig. 4 is a View in section showing a bottle being dropped from a carrier into the discharge chute, and Fig. 5 is aview in section on the line mof Fig. 4. i

1 represents a supporting structure preferably cylindrical in shape and provided with a slanting top 2, and 3 is the bottle carrier guide, secured to the said lsupporting' structure 1 at the top thereof parallel with the conical top frame 4.

Secured to the top 2 of the support 1 is a bracket 5 which carries and supports the shaft 6, and also one end of shaft 7, the other end of said shaft 7., being mounted in i bearing 8 secured tothe support 1. Shaft 6 is at right angles to the top 2 of the support 1, and at the center thereof, and passes through the apex of the conical top frame the axis of which latter is at right angles to the slanting topof the support. This conical top frame and the bottle carrier guide, which latter is parallel with said top frame, are connected by the ring plate 9, thus forming a closed tank for holding water, in

which the bottles and brushes are submerged 1n the operation of the apparatus.

Secured to the lower end of shaft 6 within the. support 1, is the bevel gear wheel 6a which meshes with bevel pinion 10, on shaft 7, which as before explained is mounted in a bearing carriedby bracket 5 and in bearing 8 on the support 1. Shaft 7 is coupled up to a suitable motor (not shown) by a belt, chain' or other suitable means and is rotating at all times while the apparatus is in operation. rlihe shaft 6 is loosely mounted at its upper end in the fixed gear wheel 11,

which is secured to the fixed top frame 4 atk the apex of the latter, and meshes with the series of small pinions 12 on the brush shafts 13. The entire series of brush shafts 13 are mounted in and carried by the conical frame 14 which is keyed to the inclined shaft 6. rThe lower end of `frame 14 rests on ball bearing 15 carried by the upper end of bracket 5, so that the shaft 6 and the parts carried thereby, are supported on the antifriction or ball bearing. The outer edge of the revolving frame 14, is flanged or turned upwardly, as at 16, for the two fold purpose of preventing the lubricating grease or oil on the gear and pinions from gravitating into the water, and also for protecting the gearing from the water. There are a series of brush shafts 13 carried by the frame 14, and each shaft carries a cylindrical brush 17 the stem 18 of which is coupled to a shaft 13 by a coupling 19.

From the foregoing it` will be seen that when shaft -6 is rotated, 'the frame 14 will rotate with the shaft, and as the frame carries the shafts 13, the latter will be rotated by the engagement of the pinions 12 thereon, with the ixed gear wheel 11, and thus rotate all the brushes simultaneously.

Secured to the frame 14 are a series ofv outwardly projecting parallel arms 20, preferably of angle iron, open at the under side. A brush 17 and its stem 18, are located centrally between'each pair of arms 20, and a bottle carrier 21, shown best in Figs. 3,4

and 5, is pivotally mounted at one side edge on a rod 22 carried by and under one arm 20 of each pair. Each carrier 21. is semicylindrical in shape, and is lined with bris' tles or wool or other suitable material adapted by its contact with the bottle to scrub or wash the outer surface of the latter, as the so i bottlesare rotated by the frictional contact of the rotatingpbrush within the same. The vcarrier 21. is, as before stated, mounted to swing on rod 22, and is also adapted to slide longitudinally' on said rod so as to carry the `bottle supported by the carrier, toward the brush. This movement of the carrier is effected by the lcam ring 23secured'to the underside of the conical top pla-te 4, and the upwardly projecting lips 24 and 25 shown in Fig. 4, secured to the inner end of the carrier 21, the lip 24 bearing -against the yinner face of the cam ring, and the lip 25 bearing against the outer face thereof, so that as the revolving frame 14, which as before explained carries the arms 2O is rothe revolving brush therein will have been .carried down into the water in the lower part of the inclined chamber and then elevated above the same. During this movement the bottle, brush and carrier are submerged and as the rotating brush on the inside of the bottle will by its frictional contact with the bottle, shift and turn or partly turn the bottle within its carrier, it will be seen that the bottle will be thoroughly cleaned inside and out during its passage through the apparatus.` In its movements over the carrier guide 3, the bottle carrier 21rests on and is supported by the said guide 3, and ispreferably provided at its outer end as shown, with aroller 26 which rolls on said guide and reduces the friction.

The bottles to be cleaned are placed in the feed trough 27, which is provided-with 'a gage 27L adapted to be adjusted for bottles of various sizes. The bottles are placed in the inclined trough' with their necks on the gage, as shown in Fig. 1, and are held at the lower end of the trough by the yielding fingers 28. The top plate 4 is cut away as at v29, at'the feeding point, which is adjacent the lower end of the trough, and the lower end of the latter is slotted and projects into said opening and terminates just above and in close proximity to the plates 30. These plates connect the adjacent arms 2O of the Aseveral pairs at the outer ends of the'xlatter,

` leaving thespace between the arms of each pair open for the entrance of the bottles. The rear arms 20 of each pair, are provided with a serles of upwardly projecting fingers `31, which latter are so located as to pass through the slots 32 in the lower end of the trough 27 and engage the bottle, that is in contact with the yielding fingers 28, and force the same into the carrier 21. As the bottle is released from the trough, the neXt one moves to position to be engaged by the fingers 31 adjacent the .next carrier. After the bottle drops into a carrier the continued rotary movement of the latter brings the cam ring 23 into contact with the lip 24, which operates to move the carrier longitudinally toward the brush with the mouth of the bottle in line with the latter. The brushes are wet from their previous passage through the water, but they, and the bottle and carrier for the latter, are, owing to the inclination of the conical container, carried downwardly until submerged in the water, the brush in the meanwhile rotating in the bottle and imparting by its frictional contact withthe bottle, more or less rotation to the latter, so as to clean it thoroughly inside and out. As the bottle continues its movement around the tank, it is elevated from its inclined position, as shown at the left of Fig. 1, to a nearly horizontal position at point of discharge as shown in Fig. 4. As the bottle carrier with the bottle therein, begins its'ascent, the lip 25 on the carrier 21 is engaged by the outer face ot cam ring 23, which operates to push the carrier outwardly and away from its brush, and by the time the carrier reaches the discharge chute 33, the bottle and carrier 21 will have been moved clear of the brush, thus leaving the bottle free to be discharged. The discharge chute 33 is attached to the carrier guide 3, and the latter is cut away, as shown 1n Figs. 4 and 5, so that as the carrier 21 reaches the chute it will be unsupported and drop, as in Fig. 5, and discharge its,v bottle into the chute, which is so inclined that the. bottle deposited therein slides rapidly into a rinsing machine or other container located under the lower end of the chute.

prefer to provide the container with a water supply pipe 34, a drain and discharge pipe 35, and an overflow 36, so that Water either hot or cold, may be constantly supplied and a uniform level maintained. After the carrier 21 drops its bottle into the chute, the continued rotation of the frame 14, causes the carrier 21 by its contact with the inclined side wall of the chute, to assume its normal position to receive the next bottle. The carrier passes from the chute to the trough for the next bottle therein and after passing around. the yapparatus discharges the bottle into the chute. The apparatus may have a dozen, more or less of carriers and brushes, so that the washing oi' a largernumber of bottles may be thoroughly, rapidly and economically accomplished without any attention other than placing the bottles on the trough.

t .1t is evident that many changes in the dee may be resorted to without departing menace Y am from the spirit of my invention, hence I would have it understood that I do 'not conline myself to the details as shown, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes as may fall within the scope of my invention. i

I-Iaving fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. In bottle washing apparatus, the combination of a tank, a bottle carrier in Which the bottle is loosely supported, the said carrier having means for scrubbing'the outerside of the bottle, means for 'moving Asaid, `carrier through the tank, a brush located in line with the carrier and movable with ,the

same, means for moving the carrier toward` for automatically discharging the bottle,

/ after it has passed through the tank.

2. In a bottle washing apparatus, the combination of a tank, a bottle carrier in which the bottle is loosely supported, the

said carrier having means for washing the outer side of the bottle, means for moving the same downinto the water in Isaid tank "zand then up above the water, al revolving ttt titi

brush located inline withv the carrier and movable with the latter, means for moving the `carrier toward and away from the revolving brush means located above the Wa; ter level in the tank for'automatically feed# ing the bottles to the carrier,` and means for automatically discharging said bottles after they have been passed through,` the water.

3. In a bottle Washing apparatus, the com-` in the carrier as the latter is moved trans-l versely of the carrier guide,'means adjacent the horizontal part of the frame fer feeding bottles to the carrier, and means for discharging bottles from the carrier.

4. In a bottle washing apparatus, the combination of a tank, a fixed circular inclined guide the lower portion oi which is within the water, a hinged bottle carrier mounted to travel on said guide and maintained by the same in position to support the bottle, means for moving the carrier transversely of the guide and a revolving brush located in the path of transverse movement of the bottle carrier, whereby when the botu guide the lower portion of which is below the water level'in the said tank, a bottle car-v rier hinged at one side edge, `and sustained in carrying position during its movement around the apparatus by the guide on which it moves, and adaptedv when .it reachesthe discharge point to tilt and discharge the bottle, and means for washing the inside of the bottle.

6. In bottle washing apparatus, the combil nation' of a water tank, a circular guide 4within said tank, the said guide being higher y at one side than the other so as to be partly above the water level in the tank, a rotating' frame carrying a series of.pivoted-bottle carriers which are maintained in position to carry the bottles by the circular guide and a revolvingv brush for each bottle carrier, means for revolving the brushes and means for moving the bottle carriers toward and away from their respective brushes.

7. In bottle washing apparatus, the com-- bination of a water tank, a circular guide therein the guide being inclined so that one part is` above" the water level, a rotating frame Within the tank, a series of bottle carriers on said frame and'moving' on thecircular guide, each carrier having a bottle scrubbing lining, a revolving brush for each bottle carrier, means for revolving the brushes and means for `movingthe bottle carriers toward the brushes during the first part of the rotary travel of'the bottle carriers and away from said brushes during the latter part of said movement.

8. In bottle washing apparatus, thecornbination of afsupport having an inclined top, a tank carried by said support, a shaft at right angles to said inclined top and in line with the/long axis of the cone,l a frame keyed to the shaft, a series of bottle carriers carried by said frame, a revolving brush for each bottle ycarrier also carried by said frame, means for rotating the brushes and means for moving the bottle carriers toward and away from their respective brushes.

9. In bottle washing apparatus,'the com-v bination of a support having an inclined top, a tank on said support, and at one side thereof, a revolving frame, the axis of which is inclined, bottle carriers on said frame and adapted to pass through the tank, rotating brushes also carried by said frame, means for rotating the frame, means for revolving the brushes, and means for movin the bottle carriers toward and away from t e brushes.

10. In a bottle washing machine, the combination of a water tank, a top plate havin an opening through the same through Whic l bottles, the said carriers each having means for washing the outer side of the bottle, a guide on which said bottle carriers move and by which 'they are supported except at the point where the bottles aredischargedma revolving brush for each bottle carrier, the said bru-shesbeing carried by the movable frame, and means for moving the bottle carriers toward their respective brushes 4and also away from them at each revolution of the machine.y

11". In bottlewashing apparatus, the com- I bination of-a'water tank, a top plate having a feed opening through the same through which thebottles are fed to the bottle carrier, a revolving frame below said plate, a

series of bottle` carriers carried by said frame each carrier being hinged at one side edge whereby it may be tilted ,to discharge its bottle, a guide onI which the bottle carriers move and by which they are supported except at the point where the bottles are discharged from. the carriers, a chute for receivingv the bottles discharged from the carriers, arevolving brush for each bottle car rier the said brushes being carried by the revolving frame, and means for moving the bottle carriers ltoward their respective brushes and also away from them at each revolution of the'l frame.

\ 12. In bottle washing apparatus, the combination of a standard having an inclined top, a tank the axis of which is at right an-V gles to said inclined top, a frame mounted to revolve Within the tank on a shaft coin-v cident with the axis of the latter, bottle car.- riers and brushes carried by said revolving frame, means for revolving the brushes and means for moving the bottle carriers to.

ward the'brushes.

13. In bottle washing apparatus, the co mv bination with atank, a shaft, a revolvlng frame within the tank and secured to the shaft, means for rotatingthe latter, a cirV volving frame, means for rotating the brushes, and means ,for moving the bottle carriers toward andaway from the brushes.

14ay In bottlewashing apparatus the combination of a tank, an inclined shaft, a conical frame mounted on the shaftso that a part thereof is within the tank andthe diametrically opposite part approximately horizontal and 1n a plane above the Water in the tank, means for rotating the shaft and its frame, a series of bottle carriers, a guide on which the bottle carriers move and by which they are retained in -carryin positions except at the point where the ,bottles are discharged from thev apparatus, rotating brushes carried by the frame, means for rof tating thebrushes, and means for moving the, bottle carriers toward yand from the brushes` 15. In bottle washing apparatus, the combination of a tank having an 'opening through its top through which the bottles are fed to the bottle carriers, and an opening through which the bottles are discharged, a shaft, a revolving frame within the tank andsecured to the shaft, a series ofbottle carriers carried by .said frame, and a revolving brush for each bottle carrier, the said brushes being carried by the revolving frame, and means for moving the bottle carriers toward and away from the brushes once "during each revolution of the frame.l

16. In a bottle washing machine, the combination of a tank, a shaft, a revolving frame within the tank and secured to the shaft, a circular guide, a series of bottle carriers hinged at one side to the revolving frame and supported in carrying position by said guide, a portion of the guide being cut away so as to permit the carrier to turn to a position to discharge the bottle therein, means for feeding the bottles to the carrier, a revolving brush for each carrier, and means for moving the carrier toward and away from its brush at each revolution of the revolving frame.

17. In a bottle washing apparatus, the combination of a revolvin frame, a series of bottle carriers attache to said frame, each carrier` having means for scrubbing the outer side of the bottle, a revolvingbrush for each carrier, the said brushes adapted to turn the bottles on their carriers, and means for moving the carriers toward their respective brushes. y

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

y WILLIAM R. COPPAGE.

Witnesses:

` S. C. HILL .CHARLES CLARK, Jr. 

